PPD study task one - Why am I here? What do I want to learn?

• identify and explain 5 reasons why you chose to study on this programme.

From asking around and attending open days I was aware the course has a very good reputation and I was drawn to it because of this. 

The course has amazing facilities which gives me the opportunity to help me work my way toward my full potential and present my work in the best possible way. 

The college facilities also drew me to this programme because it meant I could maybe learn a technique I hadn't used before or when I needed something like a camera I'm able to go borrow one. 

The fact the tutors have experience in the industry was also a plus because I'm able to ask questions that they are highly likely to know the answer to and they know exactly what it takes to make it in the working world. 

My general growing interest in graphic design was also really important because I wouldn't have looked at this course at all if it wasn't for that. 

• Identify and explain 5 things that you want to learn during your time on the programme.

I'd like to learn about more designers i've not really heard of to expand my knowledge of graphic design and the current talent that is out there. 

I have little knowledge of printing processes and costing so i'd also like to learn more about that as its obviously a massive part of graphic design and will be needed within my own practice. 

I'd like to visit graphic design studios to learn more about how they are run and how each separate studio operates as this may differ. It will give me an idea of what to expect in the future. 

I want to improve my software skills this year and also learn how to use new software that will help extend my skills. 

I'd like to learn more about myself as a designer. Im already aware of where my skills lie, I just think I need to come out of my shell a little bit more and grow in confidence. 

• Identify and explain 5 skills that you think are your strengths.

Time management is one of my most valued strengths because if I didn't manage my time nothing would ever get done and i'd never meet my deadlines, which is really important whilst being on this course. 

Organisation is also another key thing. I tend to write everything down when I get it where tasks are concerned and make sure everything is done at least a few days before its needed so I don't have to worry about it. 

A willingness to work is a good strength to have because again, nothing would ever get done without this. I admit, I do lose motivation sometimes but soon pick this back up again. 

Punctuality is another strength as Im always on time, if not a little early as attendance is another key thing on this course. 

Seeking feedback from peers is something I tend to do quite a lot because sometimes they might be my audience so I can get an idea if the direction i'm taking my work in is working. 

• Identify and explain 5 things that you want to improve.

Talking to tutors more is a massive thing I need to improve upon, I've already started with this, this year but I hope to carry on having many more conversations just to make sure i'm not going completely off track and so they have an understanding of what i'm working on. 

Thinking outside the box/ taking risks needs to happen more this year because I might not always be wrong but I won't find out if I don't try taking risks. 

I need to resolve a problem and then resolve it again because the second resolution might be better than the first.

I also need to be willing to make more mistakes because this is one of the ways I will learn and improve as a designer. Making a mistakes isn't always a bad thing! 

I also need to experiment with more types of resolutions such as packaging because this isn't something I worked with last year and I need to be more aware of things like this. 

• Identify and explain 5 ways that you will evaluate your progress.

If I speak to people about my work this will give me an idea of how i'm progressing because you'll be able to see a fall or rise in the quality of my work. 

Looking back on previous blog posts will also be another good way of evaluating my work because I'll be able to see what order things were done in and see definite progress. 

Looking at grade feedback will give me an honest opinion on how my work is going and if my tutors think i'm improving and what can be done to take this a step further. 

Reading my own evaluations after each project will tell me how I think i'm progressing if at all and will also guide me so I know what I need to improve upon. 

Re-doing this task a few times throughout the year will help me evaluate wether i've done some of the things I said I would and also what I have left to do to meet my targets. 

• Identify 5 questions that you want to find the answer to.

What do I want to do in the future? (Which area of graphic design do I want to work in?)

Do I have a favourite type of design or should I not limit my interest?

Do I work better solo or as part of a team? 

Will I ever take a liking to editorial? 

Have I given my best? 

How good?... Were you convinced?

What else is interesting about their good that hasn't been mentioned? 

History of the classic. What was the first one like? 
The technology of the ipod. 


Is there a flaw in the argument? What do you disagree with and why?
It's not the most popular ipod. 
Other products are on the market, often more memory for less money.


What processes, scenarios or contexts might improve the potential impact of the concept?
Reinvention 
Personalities - customise. 


How else might the concept be creatively improved? Any other comments...
Look at advertising for the classic.
Look at other types of ipods and their adverts and apply them to the classic. 
Give mp3s a package. 
The ipod 'made' apple. 






We created presentations on our favourite 'good' to summarise all the things we'd found out about this good. After presenting them to a group of people we were given a bit of feedback to see which direction our ideas could take. One of the main things brought up with my presentation on the ipod classic was that I may have limited myself a little too much with focusing straight away on the one ipod. This then encouraged me to work backwards a little bit and I began to think of much more creative ideas when I looked upon ipods as a whole. As someone mentioned wanting to know a little bit more about the history, I started to focus in on this. 

Year two

Indesign.

This is the final layout for my indesign project. I feel its successful because theres balance on either side and the page looks full and exciting. The colours work really well together but aren't too overpowering. I feel that I did take some aspects of what we learnt with Lorenzo into this brief in terms of how my imagery is placed. The border looks quite good because it frames my layout. If I were to do this brief again I could however, be a little bit more experimental with the whole layout in general. 

End of module self-evaluation.

What skills have you developed through this module and how effectively do you think you have applied them? 

I feel i've developed more skills when it comes to group work because I have become a bit more tolerant of other people. I've never really liked group work but I feel in this module i've warmed to it a little bit more as the results are pleasing when you get a good team of people to work with. I've also developed skills in type and grid because i've learnt that neat and simple isn't always the way forward and theres always so much more you can do with a layout if you think outside the box. Using a grid with eight columns is also generally better than just three because it gives you more to work with and the end results are more exciting. With speaking from experience i've been able to reflect on all the skills i've learnt in general but when it comes to my work I feel i've learnt the consider which outcomes best suit which brief as before I'd go for the 'practical' poster. Through this brief i've learnt that grids are actually really helpful because they mean you can experiment with the layout and make sure all the elements line up suitably and they also give you an overall neater finish. Finally i've learnt that discussions with other people in the class when it comes to certain briefs are always really useful because they may be able to point you in a direction that you hadn't really considered. 

What approaches to/methods of research have you developed and how have they informed your design development process? 

Questionnaires have been really useful throughout this module because i've been able to get the information i've needed straight away and i've got honest opinions from people. They've also meant that I could make sure my idea which actually solving a problem and they've acted as proof of a problem I have created or thought about. Generally i've learnt to aim these questionnaires at specific people to suit the information i'm trying to find out. I've also looked at existing campaigns/information to inform my own ideas and to make sure I steer away from something that's already been done. 

What strengths can you identify in your work and how have/will you capitalise on these?

My development work is still coming out on top because I tend to experiment with a range of different layouts/fonts and colours before deciding which one I think is best. I can expand on this by experimenting with other things too such as stock and sizing of whatever it is i'm trying to create so i've looked at a wider range of final outcomes and i'm not limiting myself. The fact I write my thoughts and ideas down when they come to me is also a strength because not only does it mean I won't forgot but it helps me clarify what would work and what wouldn't. 

What weaknesses can you identify in your work and how will you address these more fully? 

I'm still sat far too comfortably in my comfort zone because I sometimes think i'm afraid to take a risk and make mistakes as I feel this is letting myself down. Due to this, all my work seems very safe and I haven't experimented much with different process' or ways of presenting my work. I feel i'm just going to have to push myself to try new things as some process' I have tried as a workshop but just not in my work, so I know i'm capable of doing different things. Also using my free time to go to new workshops will benefit me because it will broaden my practise. I need to take more risks because at the end of the day i'll only learn more from them.

Identify five things that you will do differently next time and what do you expect to gain from doing these? 

1. Experiment with different types of stock. 

Some of my work may be more suited to one stock more than another and it may make my final outcomes look more professional and considered. 

2. Use my 'free time' to come into uni more. 

I've done this a lot more throughout this project as i've needed the software etc. but I feel a lot more productive through doing so and I think my projects benefit from this. 

3. Explore outside my comfort zone. 

My practise will become more varied and i'll be able to show I have a wide range of skills. If I make any mistakes i'll learn a lot from them. 

4. Blogging. 

I let it slip quite a lot throughout this module and through doing so sometimes I forget why i've done something or what I was thinking when i've done something. So it makes more sense to keep on top of it. 

5. Use the library more. 
I tend to use online resources a lot of the time for my research but if I use books they are more reliable and I may find something I haven't come across. 

Speaking from experience; final crit.

I feel the feedback from this crit was useful because my work was marked by my peers on the course so they are my target audience. Some of the feedback such as 'show more evidence of the opinions of others' wouldn't have been given if my blog was available to look at during the crit as this information can be found there. I do feel that I concentrated maybe a little too much on the booklet when I could have created a wider range of graphic outcomes, although the booklet was an important part of this project and my concept. I did experiment with typefaces and layout to a certain extent but this could have been a lot better. Overall I think the additional comments are relevant to my practice in general because throughout most of this year I have stuck to my comfort zone and need to try and break out of this. The reason I have spoken in the first person in a section of my booklet is because this project is about speaking from experience and I thought that if I included personal experiences then it would make it more believable. I also don't find it necessary to change the style of my book because its purpose in being how it currently is, is it could be stuck on the wall once folded out as possible a reminder for the student who has a copy. I've enjoyed this project because reflecting on the year has made me realise just how much i've experienced. 

Speaking from experience.

For my final piece I designed my three booklets each containing different information that is relevant to being a first year on the graphic design course. I feel overall that my final pieces are successful because they are simplistic and get my idea across with no confusion. Each book has it's own bellyband to indicate what it is and then I made a final larger one for the set of books as a student would receive them together. I think the fact they are pocket size works really successfully because then they can be kept in a students wallet or even just in their pocket. I've used the fact my topic was money to my advantage because the books look like a pile of money when they are together (as seen above). 

This was the facebook page I created so people could go and post their own tips and experiences. I added everyone in the current graphic design first year as there comments were likely to be more relevant  with the project being based around the course. This wasn't as successful as it possibly could have been because only one person commented on the page. I do feel that if this was left longer more people may contribute and the concept itself was pretty clear. I also think that it may have been more successful if I got others to spread the word.